10 Years Later

Summary

The web content is a reflective piece by Nia Simone McLeod, who has compiled a free verse poem from lines she's posted online over the past decade, offering a glimpse into her personal growth and her relationship with writing and sharing poetry.

Abstract

The article titled "10 Years Later" presents a poetic compilation by Nia Simone McLeod, which encapsulates her journey as a writer over the last ten years. The poem, a free verse composition, is a mosaic of lines previously shared online, reflecting on themes of identity, nature, introspection, and the passage of time. McLeod muses on the nature of creativity, the discomfort of revisiting past work, and the desire to eventually share her full poetic journey with the world. She acknowledges the oddity of reading her old poetry, likening it to looking through a photo album, and invites readers to explore her archives if they are curious. The piece concludes with an introduction to McLeod's current endeavors as a writer and content creator, including her Medium publications and newsletter.

Opinions

McLeod views her relationship with the sun as intimate and creative, rather than simply being sunkissed.
She believes that ideas at 3AM may seem promising but require discernment, and she humorously suggests seeking guidance from the moon.
The author values silence in companionship, indicating a preference for a connection that doesn't always need words.
McLeod sees personal growth as a shedding process, akin to a dog shedding fur, suggesting it's an inevitable and natural progression.
She grapples with internal struggles (her demons) that affect both herself and others, questioning the fixation on life's difficult aspects.
The act of freeing a caged bird is used as a metaphor for letting go and the uncertainty of what follows.
McLeod admits to a love-hate relationship with her old poetry, finding it both cringe-worthy and a precious time capsule.
She expresses a future intention to create a dedicated space for her past poems, signaling a readiness to embrace and share her evolution as a poet.
The author is transparent about her past work being publicly accessible for those who are curious, showing an openness to being discovered and understood through her writing.

A free verse poem composed of lines I’ve posted online over the past decade

I am not sunkissed. The sun and I made love. Mother Nature and I are distant relatives.

At 3AM, all ideas sound like good ideas. Should I talk to the moon and ask it for guidance? I long to find someone who finds comfort in our silence.

I can shed my wants like a dog’s fur. It’s only a matter of time.

How can I win against my demons when they suffocate not only me but you too? Why obsess over the thorns of a rose? How does it feel to gift a caged bird their freedom and watch them ricochet back to you?

Author’s Note: I’ve been posting poetry online for a decade. In an effort to find something to post here, sometimes I stroll through my email/blog archives to find what’s out there — and then I vehemently decide against it.

Reading old poetry is odd. For a moment, I’m transported into the mindset of my younger self whether it’s at 16, 19, or 24. I see snapshots of that year like I’m looking through a photo album.

One day, I’ll find a space for all my old poems. I’ll point it out to the world and proclaim with pride, “This is me.” Once I’m ready, I’ll let you know.

If you’re nosy and you want to find old poems I’ve written, be my guest. I’m nosy too. I get it. The poems are out there. You’ve just got to look.

Nia Simone McLeod is a writer, content creator, and pop culture enthusiast from Richmond, Virginia. She’s the creator and editor of the Medium publications oh, write and coiled. In her newsletter, she shares writing prompts, the best in pop culture, and sneak peeks at her upcoming work.